Self-feeder construction



Sept. 8, 1931. H. H. HELMERS 1,822,289

SELF FEEDR CONSTRUCTION I Filed Jupe :5. 1929 Harney/JVM Patented Sept. "8, 1931 UNITED STATES HENRY H. HELMERS, F '.DOON, IOWA SELF-FEEDER CONSTRUCTION Application filed June 3, 1929. Serial No. 368,139.

The obj ect of my invention is to provide a self-feeder construction that is simple, durable and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

More particularly it is my object to provide a self-feeder construction built of sections, the sections beingmade of blocks formed of concrete or the like.

Still a further object is to provide a sectional feeder of this character formed of a plurality of base blocks forming feeder compartments and a plurality of hopper blocks forming a hopper compartment, the feeder compartments being covered by hinged cover l@ members and the hopper compartment being covered by a cone shaped lid.

Still .a further object is to provide in connection with the self feeder a valve plate adapted for regulating the flow of feed lfrom the hopper compartment to the feeder comartments. l

Still a further object is to provide a proj ection on the outside of the hopper for draining water on to the' hinged covers and providing grooves in the upper edges of the feeder compartment partitions whereby water flowing between the edges of the hinged covers may be drained away from the feeder.

With `these and other objects inview my invention consists in the construction, .ar-

rangement and combination ofthe various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more F fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and .3 illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which: Y

Figure 1 is a plan view of my device showing the 'lid removed, two of the hopper blocks removed and all but five of the compartment covers removed. i

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the device as taken onthe line'2-2 of Figure 1. j Y

Figure 3 is a perspective view ofzone of the base blocks forming the feeder compartments. j

Figure 4f is a perspective view of one of the hopper blocks; and Y Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the hinged covers and retainers for `the pintle thereof. Y

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference character A to indicate generally a base block. rIhe reference character B indicates a hopper block whileV the reference` character C refers to a filler base block. The base block A consists of a bottom member 10 having A:radial sides and curved ends. At the outer curved end a substantially slanting wall 12 is provided. The inner end is provided with a shouldered groove 14;. Partition member 16 extends upwardly from the bottom member 10. Notches 18 and slots 20 .are formed in the partition. members 16. The hopper block B is of stave like construction and has adjacent its'lower end a projection 22 for draining water from the sides of the self feeder. The projection 22V is provided with a downwardly extended bead 24:. On the opposite side from the projection 22 is a Y depression 26 provided for a purpose hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the assembly of the device a plurality of'base blocks A are arranged in .a circle, as shown in Figure 1. Theyare retained inv this circle formation by means of a hoop 28 such as used in silo construction. The ends of the hoop 28 are provided with nuts 30 bearing against the ends of a fitting 32 through which` the threaded ends of the hoop`28 extend; f

Assembling the base block A in this manner leaves an opening in the center which is then closed by the filler'base block C. A A hopper is then built on the base blocks by means of the hopper blocks B. These 'are arranged to form a tubular like hopper'as clearly shown in Figure 1, by resting the lower ends of the'blocks B in the notches 18. The blocks B are then held in assembled position by means of hoops 311 provided with the con nector devices 30 and 32 already described.

A valve plate 36 of tubular construction is then mounted inthe self feeder and is slidable in the grooves 20. If desired, insteadV of the single tubular plate 36 a plurality of individual' plates may be used. VThe Vvalve plate 36 is vertically adjustable and such Y adjustment maybe-'obtained by means of supporting rods 38 connected with a spider 40. A central hub 42 of the spider 40 is mounted on a sleevenut 44 which in turn is threaded on an upright supporting shaft 46. The shaft 46 is secured to the filler base block C. The sleeve nut 44 is provided with a shoulder 48 on which the hub 42 rests. Thus when the nut 44 is adjusted upwardly the spider and valve plate 36 will also be raised as indicated in dotted lines in Figure2.

The hopper of my self feeder is covered by a lid 50 of preferably cone shaped construction for drainage purposes. Each of the feeder compartments formed by the partitions 16 of the base blocks A is covered by a hinged cover 52. Each cover 52 is provided with a pintle 54 adapted to be hooked under a bracket 56. The brackets 56 are imbedded in the partitions 16, as shown in Figure 3, and after the hopper blocks B are in position the pintles can not be drawn from thebrackets 56.

The projection 22 and the bead 24 cause any water falling on the outside snrface of thc hopper blocks B to drip down onto the covers 52. The edges of the covers 52 overlap the upper edges of the partitions 16 and I therefore provide grooves 58 in the upper surfaces of these partitions as shown in Figure 3 for the purpose of draining from the partition members, any water getting between the edges of the covers.

The depression 26 is provided to prevent choking of the device since this enlarged portion allows expansion of the grain at this particular point so that it will not choke above the valve pla-te 36. The valve plate, of course is regulated to allow the feed to pile up more or less in the feeder compartments as desired. The contacting edges of .the blocks A and B would preferably be provided with interlocking` tongues and grooves the same as in ordinary cement stave silo construction so that the blocks could be properly aligned relative to each other.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing` from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention l. In a self feeder construction, a plurality ,of base blocks of solidified plastic material forming feeder compartments and a plurality of hopper blocks of soli ditied plastic material forming a hopper compartment, said hopper locks being supported on said base blocks.

2. In a self feeder construction., a plurality of base blocks of solidified plastic material having partition members forming feeder compartments and a plurality of hopper blocks of solidified plastic material forming a hopper compartment, said `hopper blocks being supported on said partition members of said base blocks.

3. In a self feeder construction, a plurality of base blocks having partition members forming feeder compartments, a plurality of hopper blocks forming a hopper compartment, said hopper blocks being supported on said partit-ion men'rbers of sait. base blocks, and hinded covers for cach of said feeder compartments, the edges of said covers overlapping said partition members, said part1- tion members heilig inclined and having their upper edges grooved to drain water therefrom. Y

4. In a self feeder construction, a plurality of base blocks of solidified plastic material forming feeder compartments, a plurality of hopper blocks of solidified plastic material forming a hopper compartment, a formed projection on the outside of each hopper block adjacent the lower end thereof for preventing water from running into said feeder compartments, said hopper blocks heilig supported on said base blocks, and inclined hinged covers for each of said feeder compartments, the water dripping from said pre- `iections, running down said covers.

5. In a self feeder construction, a plurality of base blocks forming feeder compartments, a plurality of hopper blocks forming a ho per compartment, a 1nojection on the outside of each hopper block adjacent the lower end thereof for preventing water from running into said feeder compartments, said hopper blocks being supported on each base block and inclined hinged covers for each of said feeder compartments, the water dripping from said projections, running down said covers, said partition members being inclined and having their upper edges grooved to drain water therefrom.

6. In a self feeder construction, a plurality of base blocks forming feeder compartments and a plurality of hopper blocks forming a hopper compartn'ient, said hopper blocks bcing suppofted on said base blocks, a valve plate within said hopper compartment, a central shaft station arily mounted, a spider m ov able on said shaft and links operatively connecting said spider with said valve plate for moving the plate upon movement of the means.

7. In a self feederconstruction, a plurality of base blocks forming feeder ccn'ipartments, a plurality of hopper blocks forming a hopper compartment, said hopper blocks .being supported on said base blocks, said liase'blocks being of such size and shape as to leave a central opening, a filler 'base block in said opening, a valve plate within said hopper compartment, a central shaft mounted on and lined tro said filler base block, and a spider movable on said shaft :and links operatively connecting saidfspider with said valve las plate for moving the plate upon movement of the means. Y

8. In a self feeder construction, a plurality of base blocks forming feeder compartments, a plurality of hopper blocks forming a hopper compartment, a depression on the inside of each hopper block adjacent the lower end thereof and forming an annular diametric enlargement for preventing the clogging of feed Within said feeder, said hopper blocks being supported on said base blocks.

9. In a self feeder construction, a plurality of base blocksforming feeder compartments, a plurality of hopper blocks forming a hopper compartment, said hopper blocks being supported on said base blocks7 a valve plate Within said hopper compartment, a cen tral shaft stationarily mounted, means movable on said shaft and operatively connected With said valve plate for moving the plate upon movement of the means, said base blocks having partitions provided with vertical notches to slidably receive said valve plate. Y

l'O. In a feeder construction, a base having partition members forming feeder compartments, a hopper for supplying grain to said compartments and hinged covers for each of said feeder compartments, the edges of said covers overlapping said partition members,

said partition members being inclined and y having their upper edges grooved to drain Water therefrom.

Des Moines, Iowa, May 13, 1929.

HENRY H. HELMERS. 

